By Rose Gaudreau
Geographic Range
Perrier's sifakas are native to and only found on the island of Madagascar. They can be found in the northeastern and northern parts of Madagascar. (Banks et al., 2007; Gron, 2008a; Groves and Helgen, 2007; Lehman and Mayor, 2004; Schwitzer, Arnoult, and Rakotosamimanana, 2006)
Other Geographic Terms:
island endemic 
.
Habitat
(32.8 to 1968 ft; avg. 1640 ft)
Perrier's sifakas are eastern Madagascar lemurs. They are found in dry and riparian forests that border rivers in northern Madagascar. The elevation range is 10 to 600 meters with most being found at about 500 meters. The forests that border the rivers are riparian. The canopy is continuous and the understory is open. The riparian forest gives way to dry forests. Dry forests have a low and open canopy with a variety of vines in the understory. Perrier's sifakas will travel over savannahs to go from one forest area to another. Annual rainfall is 125.0 cm with most of it falling between November and April. (Banks et al., 2007; Gron, 2008a; Lehman and Mayor, 2004)
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
tropical ; terrestrial .
Terrestrial Biomes:
forest ; rainforest .
Other:
riparian .
Physical Description
(8.14 to 13.2 lbs; avg. 9.46 lbs)
(19.25 in)
Perrier's sifakas have minimal sexual dimorphism, with females slightly larger (average of 4.44 kg) than males (average of 4.22 kg). The average body length is 48.9 cm. They have longer legs and tails than their torso and arms. They have coats of dense, silky, black fur except on their faces and ears which have no fur. Their eyes are small and face forward. (Gron, 2008a; Groves and Helgen, 2007; Pochron, Tucker, and Wright, 2004)
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry .
Sexual dimorphism: female larger.
Reproduction
Breeding interval is not known in Perrier's sifakas, but diademed sifakas breed about every year and a half.
In diademed sifakas, matings occur in the summer, December and January.
(5.49 oz)
Perrier's sifaka mating habits have not been studied. In their close relative, Propithecus diadema, several different mating systems occur. Depending on group size, mating systems can be monogamous, polyandrous, polgynous, or polygnandrous. (Gron, 2008b; Pochron, Tucker, and Wright, 2004)
Reproductive behavior of Propithecus perrieri has not been well-studied. Perrier's sifakas were once considered a subspecies of Propithecus diadema, diademed sifakas, which has been studied more thoroughly. In diademed sifakas, multiple mating strategies are present and they can change from season to season depending on group size and structure. Females are in estrus for a short period of time, about 10 hours. Both males and females show genital swelling at times of fertility. Females become sexually mature at about 4 years old and males at 5. Mating occurs in the summer and the birth of one offspring per female occurs 5 to 6 months later, typically in the austral winter month of June. Infanticide by both males and females has been observed in some groups of diademed sifakas. This can be attributed to the arrival of new males in the group and females having a short estrus time and long gestation period. (Gron, 2008b; Pochron, Tucker, and Wright, 2004)
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous .
There are no published reports of parental investment in Proptihecus perrieri. In the close relative, Propithecus diadema, mothers are the primary caregivers of their offspring. Very little alloparenting takes places in diademed sifaka groups. During the first weeks after birth the baby clings to the belly of its mother. At 3 to 4 weeks, offspring show more independence. There is contact with others in the group, play is often limited to other juveniles, but grooming is done by all. Around this time the baby will ride on the mother's back instead of the belly. Though the offspring are weaned around 5 months they stay under the mothers watch until about 2 years of age. (Gron, 2008b)
Parental investment:
altricial ; pre-fertilization (provisioning, protecting: female); pre-hatching/birth (provisioning: female, protecting: female); pre-weaning/fledging (provisioning: female, protecting: female); pre-independence (provisioning: female, protecting: female); post-independence association with parents; extended period of juvenile learning.
Lifespan/Longevity
There are no known Propithecus perrieri in captivity. The longest living Propithecus species in captivity was 36 years old. The closely related, diademed sifakas have the greatest risk of death before the age of 5. After the age of 5 an individual can be expected to live to about 15. (Pochron, Tucker, and Wright, 2004)
Behavior
Perrier's sifakas are diurnal and occur in small groups of 2 to 6. Group territories do not overlap and there is little inter-group aggression. Perrier's sifakas primarily live in trees, using a vertical clinging mode of locomotion. They travel on hind legs over flat land to get to the river and other parts of the forest. (Gron, 2008a; Lehman and Mayor, 2004; Schwitzer, Arnoult, and Rakotosamimanana, 2006)
Home Range
The home range of Propithecus perrieri groups is on average 1.04 ha. This area includes both dry and riparian forest. Depending on the group, the amount of dry forest to riparian forest varies. (Lehman and Mayor, 2004; Schwitzer, Arnoult, and Rakotosamimanana, 2006)
Communication and Perception
Perrier's sifakas use vocalizations as a form of communication, including warning calls. Gron (2008) describes the sounds as sneeze like. Alloparenting and grooming are common forms of bonding. They use visual cues, such as genital swelling, to communicate sexual readiness. They are also likely to use chemical cues, as do other mammals. (Gron, 2008a; Gron, 2008b)
Food Habits
Perrier's sifakas are primarily folivorous, but they are also include fruit in their diet. They consume a wide variety of plants, leaves, seeds, and flowers. An average of 50% of their diet consists of leaves. These leaves come from a range of plants including Somotrorama species, Pittosporum orchrosiifolium, Sideroxylon species, Diospyros species, Olax species, and Dalbergia species. Their diet consists of 27% flowers of the plants Magifera indica, Sideroxylon, Vonga-vonga, Dalbergia, and Famoha. Fruit makes up about 17% of their diet and comes from the plants Tamarindus indica and Ficus pachyclada. Buds, petioles, and seeds finish off the remainder of their diets. This small portion of their food can come from the plants Scerocaryan and Landolphia. Rarely, but sometimes, they eat dirt. (Banks et al., 2007; Gron, 2008a; Lehman and Mayor, 2004)
Plant Foods:
leaves; seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit; flowers.
Predation
- fossas (Cryptoprocta ferox)
- raptors (Falconiformes)
- humans (Homo sapiens)
The principal natural predators of Perrier's sifakas are fossas (Cryptoprocta ferox), which can travel on land and from tree to tree. Other possible predators include eagles and hawks. Raptors are mainly a danger to young. Humans also prey on sifakas. These sifakas use vocalizations to warn of possible danger. (Banks et al., 2007; Gron, 2008a; Schwitzer, Arnoult, and Rakotosamimanana, 2006)
Ecosystem Roles
Perrier's sifakas may influence vegetation communities through their folivory and may disperse seeds when they eat fruits.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
There are no known adverse effects of Perrier's sifakas on humans.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Perrier's sifakas are important members of native ecosystems in Madagascar.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Not Evaluated.
US Federal List: [link]:
Endangered.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
State of Michigan List: [link]:
No special status.
Perrier's sifakas are considered critically endangered by the IUCN. All Propithecus species are considered endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Human destruction of the habitats of Propithecus perrieri represents their biggest threat to survival. Humans use slash-and-burn agriculture, logging, mine for gemstones, and hunt these sifakas. Another natural cause of sifaka death and destruction of habitat are wildfires. (Banks et al., 2007; Gron, 2008a; Schwitzer, Arnoult, and Rakotosamimanana, 2006)
For More Information
Find Propithecus perrieri information at
Contributors
Rose Gaudreau (author), University of Oregon. Stephen Frost (editor, instructor), University of Oregon.
Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
